Can-filling machine



March 25 2 J- J. KIRKBY CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14 1920WITNESEaES '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AT ORN EY march 25 1924. 71,487,952

J. J. KIRKBY' C AN FILLING MACHINE 7gp INVENTORI March 25 1 924.

\ 1,487,952 J. J. KIRKBY CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14 1920 '7Sheets-Sheet 6 March 25 1924. 1,487,952

J. .1. KIRKBY CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 iV i w:

= HIM Patented Mar. 25, 1924i.

UNETEQ STATES JACQUES J. KIRKBY, OF CLYMER, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO EARLJ. BELLINGER, 0F SHERMAN, NEW YORK.

can-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed October 14, 1920. Serial No. 416,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACQUES J. KIRKBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clymer, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Can-Filling Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to can filling machines.

The present machine is an improvement on the machine described andclaimed in an application filed by me March 21, 1919, Serial No.283,998. This machine, like that of my co-pending application, isparticularly adapted to fill tin cans with sweetened condensed milkthrough a small aperture commonly'known as the vent hole of the can. Themachine is not limited to use for filling cans with milk, for it mayfill any portable receptacle with a fluid having approximately theconsistency and viscosity of sweetened condensed milk.

In the machine of the earlier application,

' much of the driving mechanism was located above the milk reservoir.Since the mechanism had to be kept well lubricated, the oil and greasewould occasionally drop down upon the cover of the milk reservoir,creating an unsanitary condition. It is an object of the presentinvention to construct a can filling machine so that all the drivingparts are below the reservoir, or so far to one side of it that nogrease or oil whatever can find its way into the reservoir.

Another object of this invention is to im prove upon the drivingmechanism of the earlier construction, eliminating the driving cams andotherwise improving the machine so that the actual power required todrive the same is greatly reduced.

A further object of this invention is to provide a centering device forthe empty cans which accurately presents them to the filling nipples.

A further object is to provide an improved form of nozzle which allowsthe escape of air as the can is being filled, whereby the milk will notcrust around the can open ing.

A still further object is to provide means for positively stripping orpulling the filled cans off the filling nipples, thus preventing anycatching or jamming of the parts with consequent delay in operation.

An additional object is to provide an improved mechanism forreciprocating the can carriage.

Another object is to provide means for guiding the cans after they havebeen filled, and spacing the same apart from each other as they aremoved by the carriage onto a conveyer belt.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the extent ofmovement or stroke of the pistons so that exactly the same quantity ofmilk is forced out of each cylinder into the can below.

Another object is to provide means for preventing choking or too rapid afeed of the, empty cans out of the can filling tube.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for raising andlowering the cans before and after the feeding operation.

The general objects are to provide a machine which is simple inconstruction, economical to build and operate, which is absolutelysanitary, and is very rapid in its operation. Other objects will appearfrom the following specification.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so longas such changes and modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a machineconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, looking from the right hand endof the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in vertical cross section,looking from the same side of the machine as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, parts broken away and in section, showing therelative location of the mechanism.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail elevations showing two positions of the meansfor reciprocating the can carriage.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional View carries a worm 25.

through the cylinder, piston and reservoir, showing a portion of the cancarriage in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of the improved nozzle.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail cross sectional view of one ofthe parts of thenozzle.

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the two cam pieces employed onthe disk of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 13 isa detail view showing the mechanism for elevating and loweringthe cans.

Fig. 14: is a plan view showing the top flange of the I-beam whichsupports the cans during the filling operation.

Fig. 14 is an elevation showing the I-beam of Fig. 14 with the knock-offfir:- tures secured in position.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing several of the guides and spacers for thecans.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical section illustrating the construction ofthe spacer member.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the can cen-v tering device.

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line 16 -16 of Fig.16.

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the centering device.

Fig. 17 is an elevation partly in vertical section showing a modifiedand preferred mechanism for raising and lowering the cans to and fromthe filling nozzles.

Fig. 18 is a similar view but looking in a direction at right angles.

Fig. 19 is a detail horizontal sect-ion of part of the constructionshown in Figures 17 and 18.

Fig. 20 shows a modified mounting of the plate which prevents choking ortoo rapid feed of the empty cans from the lower end of the can feedingtube.

The present machine has its working parts supported by aframe .20comprising a number of angle bars bolted or riveted together. This frameincludes upright members and horizontal members, the whole beingsubstantially rectangular. At the rear of the frame, as seen in Fig. 2,a platform 21 is provided. An upright shaft 22 is suitably journaled inthe frame of the machine substantially midway the shafts ends and at itsupper end a drive pulley 23 is fixed. Near the lower end, the shaft 22That portion of the shaft extending within the main frame of the machineis enclosed by a casing 24, so that no grease from the bearings of theshaft can fall anywhere near the milk reservoir or can. The worm 25meshes with a worm gear 26, which, in turn, is secured upon the mainshaft 27 extending horizontally of the machine. Each end of shaft 27together so as to form effectively one beam.

The pair of beams 31 will hereafter be referred to as the cross-head ofthe machlne,

since it is by means of the reciprocation of these united channel beamsthat the pistons are reciprocatcd in their cylinders. A guide rod 33 ismounted in upright position at each end of the main frame of the machineand ispassed through a plurality of guide blocks 32 mounted between thechannel beams 31. From the foregoing description, it should be clearthat rotation of the drive shaft 22 will cause reciprocation of thecross-head up and down on the rods 33.

The cross head carries an adjusting sleeve holder 34 by which theadjusting sleeves 35 are received. A piston rod 36 is connected with thelower end of each adjusting sleeve 35 by means of a shear pin 35 whichwill break in case anything goes wrong with the feeding of the milkthrough-the nozzles and will thus prevent bursting of the cylinders. Thelower end of the piston rod 36 carries a piston (shown in detail in Fig.7) which enters a cylinder 37 having a plurality of perforations 38 inits side walls arranged in circular series. There are four to sixhundred perforations in the cylinder, each of which is smaller than thepassageway of the nipple. If the nipple has a passageway of 3/32 theseperforations may each have a diameter of 5/64.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawingsis capable of filling thirty cans with each reciprocation of the crosshead. In such case, there will be thirty pistons reciprocating in thirtycylinders similar to cylinder 37 All of said cylinders'are enclosedwithin a reservoir comprising a frame4-0 and a reservoir proper 39. Itwill be understood that for simplicity of description a single cylinderfilling nozzle and can is hereafter referred to. Instead of thirty cansbeing filled in one operation, machines may be built filling a larger orsmaller number of cans.

The reservoir has a feed pipe 41 eXtend- I ing therein through which thefresh sup-' is connected, so that from time to time after the machinehas been stopped, the reservoir may be cleaned and the liquid passed outthrough said pipe. The cylinder 37 below the perforated section thereofis screw threaded, as indicated at (Fig. 3), and passes through thebottom of the reservoir 39. A nut 46 surrounds the screwthreaded section45 of the cylinder and a gasket 47 is interposed between the nut 46 andthe bottom of the reservoir so that a fluid-tight connection is made. Acylinder holder member 48 has screw threads for engagement with thescrew threads 45 and is outside of the reservoir 39. Bolts 49 secure theholder member 48 to the top flanges of a pair of channel bars 50. Theweb of each channel bar 50 is strengthened by a plate 51. The cylinder37 has a length so as to continue below the bottom of the channel bars50 and at the lower end is screw threaded as indicated at 52 (Fig. 7). Abottom locking nut 53 engages with threads 52 and also bears against thelower flanges of bars '50. Sockets 54 are provided on the lower edge ofnut 53 to render easy the removal of said nut when desired. From theforegoing description, it will be seen that the cylinders 37 are verystrongly braced and are absolutely prevented from getting out ofalinement in spite of the tremendous pressure to which they aresubjected.

A feeding tube 55 for empty cans is supported in an inclined position tothe rear of the reservoir, being passed through channel beams 56 and 57,as seen in Fig. 3. The lower end of the tube 55 is secured to a bracket58, fast to the bottom flange of the adjacent beam 50. Empty cans aredelivered to the upper end of each tube 55 with their vent holesuppermost, and such cans are fed one by one from the lower end of eachtube to the adjacent nozzle structure, as will be described.

Referring to Fig. 7, it is there seen that the piston rod 36 has aball-headed stud 59 secured thereto at the lower end, the ball of saidstud being held by a cap 60 to a socket member 61. The socket member 61has an extension which carries the piston 62, lock nuts 64 holding thepiston on the extension. Piston rings 63 are provided.

The lower end of cylinder 37 is internally screw threaded for thereception of a cylinder closure member 65. This member holds theimproved nozzle structure which forms a part of the present invention(see Figs. 8 and 9). Screw threads 66 are provided on the upper part ofthe cylinder.

closure, while the lower part 67 of said closure has sockets 68 for thereception of a wrench whereby the closure may be turned on or off thecylinder end. The upper part of the closure member is chamfered asindicated at 69, and a screw-threaded bore 7 0 extends axially of theclosure. The bottom part of the closure has an annular shoulder 71.

The tubular nozzle member 72 has its lower end formed into asubstantially rectangular head with rounded corners, as seen in Fig. 9,and has a reduced screwthreaded section 74 for engagement with thethreads 70. The head of this nozzle member fits against the shoulder 71when it is screwed into place. Teeth 73 project from the lower face ofthe head 72 and are adapted to space the top of the can from said headso that air escaping from the can during the filling operation may passout freely.

The nozzle member 72 has an axial screwthreaded bore comprisingthesections 75 and 80, the section 75 having a somewhat larger diameterthan the section 80. lVithin the bore 75 a valve seat member 76 isremovably secured. This valve seat member has a port 77 centrallythereof, which portis closed by a ball valve 78. The lower part of thevalve seat member is suitably hollowed out to provide a chamber in whichthe ball valve may move. A vent member 79, shown separately in Fig. 10,is held within the screw-threaded bore 80 and has a central passageway81. Transverse ports are provided above the screw threaded portion ofthe vent member 79. The upper end of said vent member has a socket 83and a plurality of slots 84 is arranged circumferentially of the upperend of the vent member. Said upper end is chamfered'as shown and thesocket 83 is of sutficient diameter to receive a portion ofthe ballvalve 78. The ball valve rests by gravity on the upper end of the ventmember, and when so resting, milk may be forced out of the cylinderthrough the bore 70, the port 77, past the ball valve and through theslots 84 and ports 85, down into the passageway 81. A nipple 86 isclamped between the vent member 79 and the head 7 2, and being removablyheld, is replaceable when worn out.

A centering device for the cans, shown in Figs. 16, 16 and 16", isclamped upon the cylinder closure 65, as shown in Fig. 7. This centeringdevice may be described as being generally ring-like in form andincludes an annular flange 87, a plate 88, and a plurality of arcuateprongs 89, preferably four in number. Such prongs are beveled asindicated at 90, the bevel being on the inside so that the cans areguided thereby. The plate 88 is of irregular form, having one sidecurved as indicated at 91, the arc of said curve being the same as thearc of the prongs 89. Two other faces of the plate are plane, asindicated at 92, while the fourth face93 likewise straight but is 'whichthe centering device is clamped in surrounding relation to the member65.

The main shaft 27 carries a pair of sprocket wheels 95, (see Fig. 1)each driving a chain 96 meshing with a smaller sprocket wheel 97 on acountershaft 98. Each end of the shaft 98 carries a beveled gear 99meshing with a similar gear 100. A pair of brackets 1041 is provided oneach end of the machine for supporting a shaft 101 which is driven bythe beveled gear 100. A pulley 102 is keyed on each shaft 101 (see Figs.1 and 2). A conveyer belt 103 passes over each pulley 102, and near thecenter of the machine a belt tightening pulley 105 is provided whichshould be adjustable in the well-known manner so as to take up slack inthe belt. 'lhefunction of the belt 103 is to carry the filled cans outof the machine.

The means for moving the cans from the tubes to the proper position benth the nozzles will now be described (see Figs. at, 5, 6, 11 and 12).Upon the main shaft 27 a. disk 106 is made fast. This dish carries apair of cam pieces 109 and 111 on its opposite faces. It therefore maybe called a cam disk. A bifurcated arm 107 straddles the cam disk 100and each furcation has an elongated slot 108 straddling the shaft 27.The cam piece 109 projects outwardly from the face of the disk 100 towhich its is cured, and during the rotation of said dish, this cam pieceis brought into eng gement with a roller 110 provided on the extremityofone of the furcations. The action of the engagement of the cam piecewith this roller will beto move the arm 107 downwardly, as shown in Fig.6, the arm being guided in such movement by its straddling the shaft 27.The other cam piece 111 projects from the opposite face of the disk andengages with a roller 110 provided on the adjacent furcation. The roller110. as indicated, is atthe upper end of the corre sponding slot 108.while the roller 1'10 at the lower end of the respective slot. Theeffect of the engagement of cum piece 111 with the roller 110 isillustrated i'n Fig. 5, where it is seen that the arm 107 is movedupwardly.

The upper end of arm 107 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 112, inturn secured to a countershaft 113. Upon the countershaft 113 aplurality of segmental gears 114 is secured, such gears having teeth 115meshing with racks 110. By the mechanism which has just been described,

it will be clear that rotation of the main shaft 27 efiectsreciprocation of the rack 116. Such racks are secured to a horizonsidethereof. The carriage comprises :1-

lower plate 117 and an upper plate 118, these two plates beingduplicates but spaced from have wheels 120 mounted thereon, which wheelsrun-over a rail 121 fixed upon the frame. See Fig. Each rail 121 is cutaway near its inner end as indicated at 125 to permit raising of thecanslifting beam and is supported by a channel member 122. Snub posts123 are provided at convenient points upon the upper plate of thecarriage, such snub posts having horizontal bores for receiving guiderods 12-l-, which are in turn made fast to the main frame 20. Thus thecarriage as it reciprocates over the rails 121 is guided and in partsupported. The cans moving downwardly through the tubes 55 rest upon theupper plate of the carriage until it has moved to a position to one sideof the mouth of the tube. Then the lower most can from each tube fallsbelow and is received within the adjacent slot 119, where- 7 by it willbe moved forward by the carriage in astraight line. A spring or gravityactuated plate 130' is supported at the lower end of each tube 55 and islifted upwardly by the moving of the carriage under the nozzles andswings downwardly into a. substantially vertical position when thecarriage moves in opposite direction. This platel prevents the cans fromchoking at the mouth of the delivery tubes 55 and positively directseach can into the niche or seat provided by the alined slots 119. Asshown in Fig; 20, a plate 160 may be provided similar to plate 130 butpivoted upon the channel beam 50 instead of upon the can feeding tube55.

Extending longitudinally of the machine is a channel bar 126 the upperface of which carries a plurality of .can spacers and guiding members128. As seen in Figs. and 15*, these spacers taper slightly at each endas indicated at 129 and are undercut, as shown at 129. This undercuttingis for the purpose of accommodating the head orcrimp at the bottom ofeach can. Another ehannelbar 127 provides a support for the belt 103 andextends adjacent the channel bar 126 but slightly below the latter, sothat the top of the belt is about on a level with the upper face ofchannel .bar 126. A table is provided by a relatively wide channel bar1417, such table being on a level with the top of belt 103. As seen inFig. 2, one of the cross angle bars forming a part of the main frame iscut away as indicated at .104, so that the cans carried by the 0011-veyer belt 103 may pass out of one end of the machine.

The means for lifting the empty cans to the filling nozzles, holdingthem during the filling operation, and moving them from the nozzlesafter they have been filled will now be described. The main shaft 27carries a cam disk 131 (see Fig. 13). This cam disk has a slot cuttherein, said slot including a radiallyextenc'ling wall 132, an arcuatewall 133 conce ntric to the shaft 27, and a wall 134 at right angles tothe wall 132 and spaced from the latter by the arcuate wall 133. An arm135 has a bent section 136 forming an acute angle with the main part ofsaid arm and bifurcated at its extremity and supports a cam roller 137.This roller runs over the periphery of the cam disk 131 and enters theslot of the cam disk to cause oscillation of the arm 135 during eachrevolution of the cam disk. The other end of arm 135 is secured upon acountershaft 138, which, in turn, as seen in Fig. 4, has secured to it,at intervals, lifting arms 139. An I-beam 140 has its lower flangeengaged by these lifting arms and this beam is guided so thatoscillation of arm 135 causes vertical reciprocation of said beam.

As seen in Figs. 14 and 14, the I-beam 140 is provided with a pluralityof bores 143 extending from its upper flange 141 part way into the web.The axes of the bores 142 are slightly offset from the longitudinalcenter of the beam140, as seen in Fig. 14. The I-beam 140, which may betermed a can-lifting beam, is also provided with a plurality of threadedbores 143 which are likewise offset but on the opposite side of thebeam. Into each screw-threaded bore a T-shaped fixture hereinaftertermed the knock-off fixture is secured. Each knockoff fixture 145 hasits upper end provided with a pair of arms146 extending at. right anglesto the shank'of the fixture in opposite directions. The spacing of thesefixtures is such that a can is receivable between adjacent pairs of thefixtures with the arms 146 overlying the top of thecan. Because of thefact that the bores 143 are oil'- set, the knock-off fixtures arelikewise oflset with respect to the longitudinal center of the beam andthey are spaced closer together than a distance equal to the diameter ofthe cans so that their arms 146 nearly meet. The ofiset bores 142 arepro vided so that in case the operator who feeds empty cans into thetubes 55 fails to supply any one of these tubes, in which event upon thedownward stroke of the corresponding piston, the milk would be forcedout of the cylinder, the milk will pass out through the correspondingbore 142 to a catch pan below. The knock-off fixtures V. positivelystrip the cans off the nipples and prevent any jamming and consequentstopping of operations.

The milk reservoir has a cover 148 (see Figs. 1 and 2), with handles 149at con venient' intervals. This cover keeps all dust and all foreignmatter out of the milk to be placed in the cans. A sight glass 150, seenin Fig. 1, is provided at the front of the machine so that the operatorcan determine the level of the milk in the reservoir.

The machine is entirely automatic. The empty cans descend through thetubes 55; are prevented from overturning by the plate 130; are engagedby the reciprocating carriage, then moved to the proper position uponthe top flange of beam 140; are lifted by said beam; are centered by thepronged centering device; are filled by a single stroke of the crosshead; are positively stripped from the nipples by the knock-off fixture;are moved by the next reciprocation of the carriage onto beam 126 wherethey are maintained in spaced relation by the spacer bars 128; andfinally are pushed onto the belt 103 by the succeeding row of cans andare carried out of the machine for the sealing operation.

The cylinder perforations 38 strain the milk and prevent foreign matterfrom being forced into the cans along with the milk; this is a featurewhich is described and claimed in my co-pending application referred to.The faces 92 of the can centering devices abut each other andpositivelyprevent any turning of each device relative to the nozzle onwhich it is mounted. The set screws 94 prevent the centering devicesfrom falling off while permitting ready detaching. The face 93 istangent to the flange 87 to make room for the lifting of plates 130 or160 (Figs. 7 and 20).

The construction of Figs. 17, 18 and 19 is somewhat of an improvementupon the can lifting means shown in the other figures of the drawing,simpler and more direct, and for this reason it may be regarded as mypreferred construction. The counter-shaft 138 with the lift arms 139 aredone away with and instead a direct acting mechanism of extremesimplicity but of great strength is. employed. In Fig. 17, the mainshaft 27 is shownas provided with a cam 153 having a slot 154 extendinginwardly from its periphery. A block 152 is secured to the main frame ofthe machine and a pair of thrust columns 151 extend vertically from theblock 152 and parallel to each other. Between the thrust columns 151 abracket 155 issecured to theframe; and a plunger 156. is slidable in thebracket. (Figs. 18 and 19). The plunger 156 has a key-way 159 adapted toreceive a key provided on the bracket, whereby the plunger will not turnabout its longitudinal axis. Thelower end ofthe plunger has a roller 158designed to ride upon the periphery of the cam 153 and into and out ofits slot 15%. An adjusting screw 157 is carried on the upper end ofplunger 156; and this adjusting screw has an enlarged flat-topped headadapted to engage with the lower edge of the can lifting I-beam 140;Thus driving of the main shaft 27 efiects the desired reciprocation ofthe can lifting beam and at the same time the constructionisconsiderably simplified.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a can filling machine, a plurality ofcylinders, a piston reciprocable in each cylinder, a closure for thelower end ofeach cylinder, a nozzle mounted in eachclosure, a cancentering device mounted upon each closure, means to prevent each cancentering device from dropping offthe closure, each can centering devicebeing so shaped as to cooperate with'the devices on either side thereofto prevent turning of the same, each centering device having a pluralityof prongs which are curved to engage the side walls of the cans andbeveled to center the cans 2. In a can filling machine, a plurality ofcentering devices each comprising a plate, an annular flange provided011 said plate, means mounted on the flange whereby the centering devicemay be held upon a nozzle structure in surrounding relation thereto,

transversely curved prongs depending from the side of the plate oppositeto that from which the flange extends, said plate having a centralopening or bore for the reception of the nozzle structure upon which thedevice is mounted, the side faces of said plate being straight and incontact so that no one of these devices may be turned relative to thenozzle structure upon which it is mounted.

3. In a can filling machine, a can support, means for reciprocating saidsupport in a vertical direction, nozzles toward and from which the cansare moved, a nipple forming a part of each nozzle, and means mounted onsaid support for positively. stripping the cans off said nipples afterthe cans are full and when the support is lowered, said means comprisingfixtures of T shape including a straight upright shank and a pair ofarms each lying in the same line but extending in opposite directions atthe upper extremity of said shank.

4. In a can filling machine, a can support, a nozzle toward and fromwhich the cans are moved, a nipple forming a part of each nozzle, andmeans mounted on said support for positively stripping the cans off saidnipples after the cans are full and when the support is lowered, saidmeans comprising fixtures of T shape each including a straight uprightshank and a pair of arms each lying in the same line but extending inopposite directions at the upper extremity of said shank, theextreminozzle structure having a pair of opposed valve seats, a valvemovable in" e space between said seat-s and closing said cylinder whenin raised position, and a mpple projecting from the lower end of thenozzle structure and removable'therefrom. J

6. In a can filling machine, a nozzle structure including a vent member,said vent member being removably mounted within the nozzle structure andhaving a central longitudinal bore, transversely extending portsprovided near the upper end of said vent member, a cylindrical socketprovided at the upper end of said member, and a plurality of slotsprovided in the side wall of said socket, said socket being adapted topartially receive a ball valve.

7. In a can filling machine, means for feeding a supply of empty cans tothe machine. and means for moving said cans transversely of the machineand in a sub stantially horizontal path, said means comprising areciprocating carriage, said carriage including spaced upper and lowerplates, each plate having a niche for seating a can, a snub postextending above the top plate, and a horizontal guide rod passingthrough the snub post for partially supporting as well as ing itsmovements. V

8. In a can filling machine, a reciprocatory carriage, means foractuating said carriage including a rack mounted on the bottom of thecarriage, a segmental gear meshing with said rack, a shaft to which saidgear is fixed, a crank'arm connected to said shaft. a bifurcated armpivotally at tached to'the outer end of thecrank arm, a main driveshaft, a cam disk mounted on said main shaft, said bifurcated armstraddling said cam disk, the cam disk effecting movement of thebifurcated arm to cause oscillation of the-shaft on which thesegmentaldisk is mounted.

9. In a can filling machine, a reciprocatory carriage, means foractuating said carriage including a rack mounted on the bottom of thecarriage, a segmental gear meshing with said rack, a shaft to which saidgear is fixed a crank arm connected to said shaft, a bifurcated armpivotally attached to the outer end of the crank arm,.

a main drive shaft, a cam disk mounted on said mam shaft, said 7bifurcated arm straddling said cam disk, each furca-tion of guiding thecarriage dur the arm having a slot receiving the driving shaft, a rolleron the lower extremity of the slot of one furcation, a similar roller atthe upper extremity of the slot of the other furcation, cam means on thecorresponding faces of the cam disk for engaging with said rollers, thecam disk effecting movement of the bifurcated arm and to causeoscillation of the shaft on which the segmental disk is mounted.

10. In a can filling machine, means for raising and lowering the cans tomove the same toward and from the filling means, said raising andlowering means including a can support, said can support comprising aflanged beam, the upper flange having a plurality of bores thereinextending into the web of the beam and slightly offset relative to thebeam.

11. In a can filling machine, means for raising and lowering the cans tomove the same toward and from th filling means, said raising andlowering meansincluding a can support, said can support comprisng aflanged beam, the upper flange having a plurality of bores thereinextending into the web of the beam and slightly offset relative tothebeam, and a second series of bores interposed between thefirst-mentioned bores, said second bores being screw threaded andrelatively small in diameter, and fixtures mounted in the screw-threadedbores and upstanding from the top flange of the beam for positivelyforcing the cans downwardly at the same time the beam is lowered.

12. In a can filling machine, means for raising and lowering the cansbefore and after the filling operation comprising a beam, an armengageable with the .under side of said beam, a shaft upon which saidarm is mounted, the upper side of said beam supporting the cans, andmeans for oscillating said shaft including an arm mounted on the shaft,said arm having a bent portion at its outer end, a roller at theextremity of the bent portion, said bent portion making an acute anglewith the main part of said arm, a main driv shaft, a disk secured uponsaid shaft to rotate therewith, a slot in said disk having a radiallyextending wall, an arcuate wall concentric with the drive shaft, and awall at right angles to the radial wall, the roller on said arm ridingover the periphery of the disk and into and out of said slot.

13. In a can filling machine, means for feeding empty cans into amachine, including a reciprocatory can pushing carriage, and a tube downwhich the cans may slide into a position to be moved by said carriage, aplate mounted to swing at the lower end of the tube and normally seekinga vertical position, whereby cans emerging from the tube are preventedby the plate from overturning and whereby the carriage may move th canswhile upright into filling position.

14. In a can filling machine, means for feeding empty cans to themachine, means for preventing overturning of the cans as they issue fromthe feeding means, means for pushing the upright cans transversely ofthe machine, means for lifting the cans in juxtaposition to the fillingmeans, means for forcing the cans downwardly after the fillingoperation, means for guiding and spacing the cans apart after they havebeen filled, and means for conveying the filled cans out of the machine.

15. In a can filling machine, means for raising and lowering the cans tomove the same toward and from the filling means, said raising andlowering means including a can support, said can support comprising aflanged beam, the upper flange having a plurality of bores therein beingscrew threaded and relatively small in diameter and offset relative tothe beam web, and fixtures mounted in the screw-threaded bores andupstanding from the top flange of the beam for positively forcing thecans downwardly at the same time the beam is lowered, said fixturesbeing offset whereby when the cans are raised the fixtures do notinterfere with th can filling operation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

JACQUES J. KIRKBY.

